Local jobs for local people

The charity retail sector employs more than 26,800 FTE employees and has more than 186,800 volunteers who regularly help in their shops.  Charity shop staff are often local to the area and know the communities they serve.  Charity shops can often support their volunteers with work-skills, training and qualifications; meaning job centres and ex-offender programmes can use them to help get people into meaningful employment.

Helping funds stretch further

With the cost of living crisis, more people that ever are experiencing financial hardship and organisations are faced with helping more people with the same, or less, funding.  Charity shops offer a huge range of quality brands and styles at prices that are much lower than they would be new; from white goods and beds to children’s clothing, so many essentials can be found preloved.

High street heroes

Far from the perception that charity shops are the downfall of the high street, research show that they actually benefit the local areas; having charity shops can increase footfall to the area, occupy otherwise empty buildings and provide essential furniture, clothes and homewares for people who are only able to access their local high street and not out-of-town shopping centres.

Saving money (and the planet)

It is estimated that the charity retail sector save councils at least £31 million each year in landfill charges by diverting 339,000 tonnes of textiles away from landfill or incineration.

Supporting charities

The profit contribution of regional and national charity retail to parent charities is £363m annually.  The Charity Shop Gift Card helps charity retailers access the £7billion gift card market.  So when you choose The Charity Shop Gift Card to administer disbursements, it helps charities generate additional revenue to continue their vital work in our communities.